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General Studies

Bachelor of General Studies Curriculum

Katherine G. Aiken, Director (113 Admin. Bldg.; 208/885-6426); Kristine A. Roby, General Studies Advisor (208/885-6426).

The General Studies program serves students in two ways: it is elected by many entering students who wish to examine a number of possible academic options before selecting a major in a traditional discipline, and elected by students who wish to graduate with the BGS degree, having developed a coherent program of study with the aid of their advisor. Students who have declared a major in General Studies, whether to explore academic options or graduate in this curriculum, are strongly encouraged to utilize programs and services offered by the Office of Career and Professional Planning and the Counseling and Testing Center to assist them in identifying possible career paths and in understanding how their interests may impact on their choice of a degree program at the UI. Students in the General Studies program may transfer to any degree program at any time if they satisfy the grade-point average and curricular requirements of those programs.

Admission to the Program

New students wishing to enroll in the General Studies program may indicate their choice on the application form for admission to the university. Students currently enrolled in one of the colleges of the university may transfer to the program by completing a change of curriculum form.

General Regulations

Students participating in General Studies while exploring their choice of majors are strongly advised to complete courses that meet requirements as described in Regulation J of the General Catalog. At the same time, these students are strongly advised to select elective courses that will give them exposure to various academic programs at the UI. Through satisfaction of requirements as described in Regulation J of the General Catalog, selection of elective courses offering a wide exposure to various UI programs, and utilization of career workshops, career exploration courses, and testing through the Counseling and Testing Center, these students can move efficiently toward a reasoned academic major and career decision. Within their first year of enrollment at the UI as a General Studies major, students are advised to take a career exploration course. Particular attention is paid to identifying critical prerequisite courses so that students are able to enter a major on track for graduation. Students may transfer from General Studies to a new major at any time if they satisfy the prerequisite and grade-point requirements of that major. Students must have at least a 2.00 grade-point average to transfer into many of the university's colleges.

Bachelor of General Studies Curriculum

The curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of General Studies is designed to provide maximum flexibility for undergraduates while planning their program of studies. Since the only specific subject requirements are the general university requirements, students can plan their programs to the best advantage of their particular educational objectives. This means that students must bear the major responsibility for their choice of courses. Those who plan wisely have the opportunity to obtain an excellent education. The key admonition is: plan your program carefully.

The major thrust of the B.G.S. degree program is nonspecialized education. Although a student could take his or her work in a limited number of departments, the intent of this program is to permit great latitude in the choice of subjects so that students may satisfy their particular objectives. No student may become a candidate for the B.G.S. degree who has already earned a baccalaureate degree or who is a candidate for another degree offered by the university.

Major. No major other than "general studies" will be certified on the student's diploma or official transcript. Students who wish to have a designated major should pursue a departmental baccalaureate degree (B.A., B.S., etc).

Minor. Students graduating with a Bachelor of General Studies may satisfy requirements for one or more minors. In these cases their transcript will reflect these minors.

Degree Requirements. In addition to the general university requirements for the baccalaureate degree (see regulation J-3), sufficient electives must be taken to total 128 credits. A minimum of 48 credits must be earned in courses numbered 300 and above. Not more than 40 credits in any one discipline may be counted in the 128 credits.

Suggestions to Students. Students are advised not to make a firm decision with respect to the B.G.S. degree before the end of the freshman year. During the freshman year, and probably during the sophomore year, students should consider following one of the curricula leading to a departmental baccalaureate degree, deviating from the departmental requirements only where it appears educationally advisable to do so.

It is very important that the student working toward the B.G.S. "look ahead" to see in which departments he or she wishes to accumulate the required 48 credits in upper-division courses (those numbered 300 and above). Many upper-division courses have prerequisites that must be completed during the early semesters of the student's undergraduate career. If planning is delayed, it may be that some courses will be "unavailable" because the student has not taken the prerequisites.